2025 Short Film Competition

Early Deadline:
June 5th

SUBMIT HERE

Winner Receives:
$5,000 | industry circulation | development and promotion

The 8th Annual Film Pipeline Short Film Competition seeks remarkable directors and diverse, engaging content—the type of work defined by forward-thinking perspectives, wildly innovative creators, and unconventional yet universally appealing stories.

Film Pipeline is significantly different from a traditional film festival: selected entrants are given one-on-one collaboration with Pipeline execs to develop or produce additional short scripts, consideration of unproduced features and pilots for circulation, and extended promotion of their film to our broader audience, in addition to customized support depending on the filmmakers' career journey and aspirations in the industry.

With over 25 years of experience discovering new screenwriters through Script Pipeline, we've cultivated a dynamic, hands-on process of development and industry facilitation for filmmakers. This allows both emerging and seasoned writers and directors to receive personalized assistance in all facets of their creative process from a knowledgeable team. And, most importantly for us, we look to spotlight and support selected talent with the intent of fostering their careers over the long-term.

Winner and finalists awarded:

  • $5,000 to winner
  • Development assistance on other scripts
  • Promotion of the short and the filmmakers’ future work
  • Additional long-term development of other projects
  • Financing consideration for additional shorts
  • Access to exclusive writer events via Pipeline Artists' Symposium

UPCOMING DEADLINES

Early: June 5th - $40
Regular: September 10th - $50
Late: September 25th - $55

Entries also accepted on:

- ABOUT FILM PIPELINE -

Launched in 2018, Film Pipeline searches for extraordinary directors, produced shorts, unproduced scripts, and other content from a growing field of talent worldwide. Filmmakers and writers discovered through Pipeline receive circulation assistance to managers and executives on the lookout for the next wave of artists, with a sharp emphasis on diverse storytelling and stylistic originality.

Unlike a traditional one-and-done festival, we champion individual writers and directors, playing a central role in getting projects developed, financed, and promoting creators over the long-term.

Over $8 million in screenplays and pilots have been sold by Pipeline writers as well as numerous scripts produced since 1999, a notable list that includes studio films Stuber by Tripper Clancy (Fox) and Snow White and the Huntsman by Evan Daugherty (Universal). Pipeline Screenwriting finalist Bring Me Back by Crosby Selander sold to Legendary in 2020 for seven figures—one of the all-time biggest spec sales by an unproduced writer. Helen Gaughran's winning horror script Visitation was produced, starring Olivia Cooke (House of the Dragon) and Isla Johnston (The Queen’s Gambit), releasing soon. Several Pipeline writers have made The Black List in recent years, such as Court 17 by Elad Ziv, Cauliflower by Daniel Jackson, and Pure by Catherine Schetina, with the latter two securing the #1 spot. And over the past 25 years, writers have signed with multiple top managers and agents, landing with reps at Bellevue, UTA, Kaplan/Perrone, XYZ Management, IAG, Alibi Management, and more following Script Pipeline development and introductions. View notable success stories.

In total, across Film, Book, and Script Pipeline, approximately 20,000 pieces of creative material are reviewed annually, with ~2,000 entries submitted to Film Pipeline in 2024.

Learn more about Script Pipeline and Pipeline Media Group, as well as Symposium and Pipeline Artists, a platform designed to educate and uplift creatives in the arts.

Grand Prize Winner - announced December 10th, 2025

  • $5,000

Finalists (up to 5) - announced December 5th, 2025

The Grand Prize Winner and Finalists all receive the following:

  • Development assistance on the selected short
  • Promotion of the short and the filmmakers’ future work
  • Additional long-term development of other projects
  • Financing consideration for additional shorts
  • Access to exclusive writer events via Pipeline Artists' Symposium

GUIDELINES

- Submission must be a standalone scripted short film or proof-of-concept. No limit on runtime, but the entry should be considered a "short."

- Any genre accepted, including non-narrative or experimental shorts. But must be for a scripted film. No documentaries, reality shows, trailers, or director's reels.

- If submitting a proof-of-concept intended to be a feature, entrants may also send supplemental info, such as a pitch, series outline, or full treatment of the story. Full screenplays are not accepted but may be submitted to Script Pipeline.

RULES

  • Films co-written or co-directed are allowed. Only one person on the filmmaking team needs to register, be it the writer, director, or producer.
  • Non-exclusive: It's fine if the film has been screened or entered into festivals prior to or after entry! There are no restrictions if there was prior distribution. In other words, dusting off an "old" film that already made a fest run is encouraged, as our process is more centered on development of other material and circulation to industry.
  • No limit on the number of entries. Each entry is a separate fee.

View complete rules and guidelines

Pipeline Media Group has cultivated relationships with over 200 production companies, managers, agents, directors, independent producers, networks/streamers, and other executives over the past two decades, leading to multiple writers signed and specs sold.

Some of the companies in Pipeline's network include:

*Industry: request to review Film Pipeline winners and finalists here.

WHAT ARE THE DEADLINE DATES?

Early: June 5th - $40
Regular: September 10th - $45
Late: September 25th - $50

DO YOU ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES?

Of course! Proud to say, many of our former winners and finalists have come from the UK, Australia, Japan ... across the globe. Writers worldwide are welcome to participate in this and any Film Pipeline, Script Pipeline, or Book Pipeline competition.

IF MY SHORT SCREENED AT A FEST, IS IT STILL ELIGIBLE?

Yes. As Film Pipeline is not a festival, we don’t have any restrictions on when and where the film was screened or if it received distribution at any point.

WHAT KINDS OF SHORT FILMS DO YOU ACCEPT?

All genres accepted, including experimental work (i.e. "I don't know what this is, but it's brilliant"). The film can be a standalone short or a proof-of-concept with plans to expand into a feature or series. The only thing we don't review is documentary or reality content, nor will we accept director's reels or trailers.

CAN I SUBMIT A ROUGH CUT?

Yes! Rough cuts are fine to submit. Our criteria is primarily based on the storytelling, the premise, and the directing ability. If you do send a rough cut, please let our coordinator know after submitting so we can take that into account when judging.

CAN I SUBMIT SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS?

Yes, in fact we would encourage writers to include supplemental materials (synopsis, a director’s statement, etc.) along with the film. You can email those materials direct to our coordinator. There’s no formatting requirement for supplemental materials, but we’d prefer they be sent as a PDF.

DO I RETAIN THE RIGHTS TO MY FILM?

All rights remain with the entrant, regardless of the final contest results. For circulation, material isn’t sent to anyone outside of Film Pipeline without the filmmakers’ consent.

AM I ALLOWED TO SUBMIT AN UPDATED LINK TO THE FILM AFTER REGISTERING?

Yes, we’ll accept updated materials any time, at no extra fee. We would need to receive the film and all supplemental info by the contest’s final deadline.

Contact our contest coordinator with any other questions.

SUBMIT HERE